Fox v. Union Turnpike Co.

75 N.Y.S. 464 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1902

Cochbane, J.

On December 20, 1899, the plaintiff recovered a judgment against the defendant, for $1,400 damages, besides costs. In February, 1900, proceedings were instituted by the defendant corporation for a voluntary dissolution of said corporation, and on the 27th day of February, 1900, one Jasper M. Whitbeck was appointed temporary receiver of the property of said defendant corporation. This proceeding to procure the voluntary dissolution of the defendant is still pending undetermined. On June 1, 1901, an order was made by this court, permitting the plaintiff to proceed with the collection of the above-mentioned judgment, and to take all legal proceedings which might be necessary to enforce,. and collect her said judgment, the same as if the said temporary receiver had not been appointed. The plaintiff thereupon instituted an action in this court to sequestrate the property of the defendant corporation, and demanding judgment among other things for the appointment of a permanent receiver of the property and effects of the defendant. Issue having been joined in the last-mentioned action the cause was brought to trial in September, 1901, and resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and the appointment of the said Jasper M. Whitbeck as permanent receiver of the property and effects of said defendant. The plaintiff, although seeking the appointment of a receiver, objected to the person appointed by the court. The decision and order of the court appointing said permanent receiver were made on the 27th day of September, 1901, but were not entered until December 23, 1901, when they were entered by the defendant (the plaintiff having neglected to do so), together with the judgment in said sequestration action. In the meantime, and on the 12th day of November, 1901, the plaintiff issued an execution on her first judgment against the defendant, and by virtue thereof the sheriff proceeded to advertise the real estate of the defendant for sale on the 26th day of December, 1901. Such sale having been temporarily stayed the defendant makes this motion to vacate, and set aside said execution, and to restrain the sale of the defendant’s property thereunder.

The plaintiff’s lien was acquired prior to the appointment of any receiver. The receiver took title subject to plaintiff’s judgment and execution. The numerous authorities cited by the plaintiff’s attorney firmly establish this proposition. The question, however, does not arise as to the sufficiency or priority of the plaintiff’s lien, but the question presented is whether the receiver appointed by the court, in the discharge of his duties, and in possession of property may have his possession interfered with by a judgment creditor having a prior lien. Under the order of June 1, 1901, above referred to, plaintiff clearly had the right to pursue her remedy by execution notwithstanding the prior appointment of the temporary receiver, because that order expressly permitted her to do so. She elected to pursue another remedy which resulted in the appointment of a permanent receiver.

The property was then in the hands of the court,' and could not be interfered with except on an application to the court. It is no answer to say that the receiver is probably hostile to the plaintiff, because on application the court may direct the receiver as to time, place, manner, terms and conditions of sale. If the conduct of the receiver is oppressive or unfair to plaintiff such conduct may be brought to the attention of the court. He is an agent of the court, and must do its bidding, and the court may fully protect whatever rights the plaintiff has. I think the case of Walling v. Miller, 108 N. Y. 173, is applicable here.' There, as here, a receiver was appointed after the lien had been acquired by levy under the execution. The court said, “ The lien of the execution was not destroyed by the appointment of a receiver, but the rights and interests of all parties in the property were thereafter to be adjusted by the court which appointed the receiver, and the property could not be taken out of the possession of the receiver and sold upon the execution without leave of the court. The execution creditor could bring his lien to the attention of the court in the action in which the receiver was appointed, and ask to have the execution satisfied out of the proceeds of the property. But persons having liens upon the property had no right to interfere with its possession by the receiver, and without any application or adjudication of the court, sell and dispose of it, and thus dissipate it and deprive the court of jurisdiction to administer it. Noe v. Gibson, 7 Paige, 513; Albany City Bank v. Schermerhorn, 10 id. 263; Wiswall v. Sampson, 14 How. [U. S.] 52.” And at page 178 it was further said, “ Therefore, before a legal sale could be made of these buildings upon the execution, application should have been made to the court which appointed the receiver for leave to make the sale. An application might also have been made to the court for payment of the execution out of the proceeds of the sale. But the sale under the execution without, leave of the court, while the property was thus in the custody of the court, was wholly illegal and void.”

Plaintiff contends that the order of June 1, 1901, gave her the right to proceed with this sale as against the subsequent judgment appointing the permanent receiver. Such is not the effect of that order. That order modified the previous order appointing a temporary receiver in the insolvency proceeding, and gave plaintiff the right to proceed as if the last-mentioned order had not been made. But when the permanent receiver was appointed in the plaintiff’s sequestration action, a new condition was created, and the judgment in that action entirely superseded the previous order of June 1, 1901.

It is urged that the receiver is not a party to this motion, and that the defendant having been divested of the title to the property, has no standing in court to make this motion. While it is true that the legal title is in the receiver, nevertheless, the defendant is interested in having the property disposed of in an orderly and regular manner to the end that as much as possible may be realized from the sale thereof, and that its debts may be paid from such proceeds. Such an interest I think gives the defendant a right to make the motion.

The execution, however, cannot be vacated. Plaintiff is entitled to retain whatever benefits she may derive from the. execution in the sheriff’s hands up to the time of the entry of the order appointing the permanent receiver. But an order may be entered, staying further proceedings under the execution. ETo motion costs are awarded.

Ordered accordingly.